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Women of the Kakawin world : marriage and sexuality in the Indic courts of Java and Bali

The lives and mores of women in one of the least understood but most densely populated areas of the world are unveiled through the eyes of generations of court poets. The work examines the idealized images of women and sexuality in Javanese and Balinese culture and provides insights into cultural practices such as the self-immolation of widows.Read more...

1. Frameworks; 2. Like a Precious Jewel: Life at Court; 3. A Fitting Partner: Courtship and Betrothal; 4. The Time Appointed: The Ceremonies of Marriage; 5. An Experience So Wondrous: Kakawin Sexuality; 6. Nothing Is More Virtuous: Death and Loyalty; 7. The Poetics of Control

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

"'Helen Creese, internationally known for her scholarship on early Balinese and Javanese literature, has broken new ground in this eagerly awaited and richly illustrated book. Her sensitive and nuanced reading of kakawin poetry opens up an intensely human world where formalized depictions of courtly love provide invaluable insights into women's experiences of marriage and sexuality. Through its skillful interweaving of gender, literature, and history, Women of the Kakawin World represents a landmark in Southeast Asian studies that will be an inspiration and a model for scholars working elsewhere in the region.' - Barbara Watson Andaya, University of Hawaii"Read more...